Microsoft's Clippy returns in Windows Phone 8.1 'Easter egg'

Cortana, Microsoft's version of Siri, will gladly reply to questions about Clippy, the sometimes annoying paper-clip character from older versions of Microsoft Office.

Cortana, Microsoft's version of Siri, will gladly reply to questions about Clippy, the sometimes annoying paper-clip character from older versions of Microsoft Office. (Microsoft)

Salvador Rodriguez

Microsoft has sneaked Clippy, one of its most beloved and hated characters, into the latest version of its mobile software.

Recently, the Redmond, Wash., tech company unveiled Windows Phone 8.1 and released it to developers. Among the new features is Cortana, Microsoft's version of Siri.

Developers have been busy asking Cortana all kinds of questions, including what she thinks of former CEO Steve Ballmer (to which she responds with a reference to one of his many famous on-stage escapades).

When asked what she thinks about Clippy, the smiling paper clip from older versions of Microsoft Office, Cortana responds, "What's not to like? That guy took a heck of a beating and he's still smiling."

Asking a follow-up question prompts the device to replace Cortana's circular icon with an image of the silly smiling paper clip.

Clippy was designed to help users with documents they were creating, but often the character was just too chatty and got in the way of work, to the frustration of many.

Clippy is no longer in Microsoft's programs, but often shows up in Internet memes. At this point, some people actually feel nostalgia for the character. That might explain why Microsoft decided to hide Clippy as an "Easter egg" inside Windows Phone 8.1.